Velpatasvir
Velpatasvir (Epclusa) is an antiviral that stops hepatitis C from multiplying. Velpanat is the one product here, a 400 mg + 100 mg tablet pairing velpatasvir with sofosbuvir.
Key points
- Hepatitis B reactivation is a serious risk: if you have ever had hepatitis B, this combination may worsen it to a life-threatening level.
- Velpatasvir is an NS5A replication complex inhibitor, blocking a protein the virus needs to assemble its genetic material.
- Velpanat, made by Natco Pharma, is the generic version of Epclusa, the brand-name product for this combination.
How does velpatasvir work?
Velpatasvir and sofosbuvir attack the hepatitis C virus at two different points. Sofosbuvir is an NS5B polymerase inhibitor that stops the virus from copying its RNA, while velpatasvir is an NS5A inhibitor that blocks a protein needed to assemble new viral particles. The two drugs prevent the virus from building complete copies of itself, which is why the combination is used to treat chronic hepatitis C. This dual mechanism sits within the broader antivirals category of medicines that target specific steps in a virus’s life cycle.